Dear Parents,

We've had two major school events in the past week with our Swimming Carnival last Friday and our annual Christmas Carols last night. A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes to make these events happen.

Thank you to Tania Thompson for her work coordinating the Swimming Carnival. In effect, Tania organised two separate carnivals with Junior and Senior carnivals happening concurrently. Thank you as well to the parents who volunteered on this day - there were yellow volunteer vests as far as the eye could see, and your contributions all helped to make the day run so smoothly.

Susan Williams jumped straight into Carols mode almost as soon as our Alice production wound up in August. Susan prepared each class's item during her Performing Arts lessons along with the accompanying instruments, and worked with the Year 6 students on bringing the carols together with a storyline. I think you'll agree there was a great range of music, and a festive atmosphere in the hall. The weather put a dampener on plans for our usual outdoor Carols but the hall was a great back-up. Anna's picnic boxes also looked delicious and were a great success.

The next few days also promise to be busy with our Year 5 leadership day taking place tomorrow, Year 6 Graduation next Thursday evening and visits to two aged care homes next week to entertain the residents with more carols.

Planning for 2024

This coming Monday our 2024 leadership team will spend the day planning for 2024, revisiting our School Improvement Plan and developing our Annual Action Plan. We have recently completed the process of appointing our Positions of Leadership for 2024 -2026.

We welcome Sigrid Happell on to our leadership team, who is taking on the role of Graduate Induction Leader.

Our 2024 Leadership Team consists of:

Acting Principal Michelle Hill

Deputy Principal /REL Steele Anderson

Deputy/Learning Diversity Peggy McDonald

Teaching and Learning Callum Mills

Literacy Leader Nonie Kay

Numeracy Leader Jo Fraser

Community/Sustainability/

Indigenous Perspectives Lisa Douglas

Wellbeing (Curriculum) Laura Zeeng

Graduate Induction Sigrid Happell

PSGs

A huge thank you needs to go to our Learning DIversity Leader Peggy McDonald for her work coordinating and leading our PSG meetings this past week. Thank you as well to the families that came in to meet with Peggy, classroom teachers and other support staff to ensure that we are all working together to best support your children.

School Fees 2024

Last week you should have received a letter via email outlining our fees and levies for 2024. If you haven't already, please complete the payment option form (attached below) and return directly to Libby Thomas at lthomas@sfbrightoneast.catholic.edu.au

Year 5 Aged Care Biography Project

After a few years break, our Year 5 students resumed their visits to local aged care homes, making three separate visits to Classic Residences. This is one of the most powerful community events that we engage in at St Finbar's, with benefits to both the aged care residents and our Year 5 students. The Year 5 students spent their first two visits getting to know a resident and interviewing them about their life, before creating a biography of the resident which was given to them at their final session. It's a beautiful project and everyone involved comments on how heartwarming it is to see the interactions between the residents and our students.

Thank you and God bless,

Michelle Hill,

Acting Principal